¡Bienvenidos a Portland!

Hispanic, Latino or Chicano? People have individual preferences, but Hispanic is the all-inclusive term for people with origins in Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America and South America. Because Portland’s community includes those from more than 20 Spanish-speaking countries, Hispanic is the preferred term for this guide.

Oregon’s Hispanic population more than doubled in the last decade. More than 80% of those people are of Mexican ancestry.

Most of Oregon’s Hispanic population lives in the tri-county area (Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas counties) in which Portland lies. More Hispanics live in Washington County, which contains Beaverton and Hillsboro, than in any other Oregon county.

Hispanics have been recorded in Oregon history ever since Spanish explorers sailed along the coastline. In the 1800s, Mexican vaqueros (buckaroos) came to Oregon to work as cowboys. Other Mexicans came here to mine gold, work on the railroad or operate mule supply packs for soldiers during the Indian wars.

When the military draft of World War II caused a labor shortage on American farms, more than 15,000 Mexican laborers came to Oregon to help harvest the crops. Many remained to work on farms or other jobs or to open their own businesses.

Hispanics make up Oregon’s largest minority. Now as in the past, Hispanic people contribute greatly to the lives of Oregonians and Portlanders through their culture, cuisine, art and commerce.